Pinnacle Airlines, Delta Reach Agreement

Existing Contract to Remain in Effect

MEMPHIS, TN–(EMWNews – July 17, 2008) – Pinnacle Airlines Corp. (NASDAQ: PNCL) reported

today that its Pinnacle Airlines, Inc. subsidiary will continue to fly for

Delta Air Lines as a Delta Connection carrier under its existing contract,

which expires in 2017. Delta previously served notice that it intended to

terminate the contract, effective July 31.

“We have tremendous respect for the people at Delta,” said Phil Trenary,

Pinnacle Airlines Corp.’s president and chief executive officer. “Our

discussions with them were amicable and we were able to resolve the issues

at hand. We look forward to building on our hard-earned reputation for

operating a safe, reliable and cost-effective airline to serve what will

soon be the largest air carrier in the world.”

Pinnacle entered into an agreement with Delta in April 2007 to operate 16

CRJ-900 aircraft as a Delta Connection carrier and began operations under

the agreement in December. Pinnacle has already taken delivery of nine of

the 16 CRJ-900 aircraft on order. As part of the resolution between the

parties, the in-service dates of the remaining seven aircraft will be

deferred until between January and May 2009. The 76-seat CRJ-900 NextGen

jet has operating costs that are the lowest among comparably sized regional

jets, providing for an economic, efficient aircraft in the Delta network.

About Pinnacle Airlines Corp.

Pinnacle Airlines Corp. (NASDAQ: PNCL), an airline holding company, is the

parent company of Pinnacle Airlines, Inc. and Colgan Air, Inc. Pinnacle

Airlines, Inc. operates a fleet of 138 regional jets in the United States

and Canada as Northwest Airlink and Delta Connection. Colgan Air, Inc.

operates a fleet of 58 regional turboprops as Continental Connection,

United Express and US Airways Express. Pinnacle Airlines Corp. operating

units fly over 1,000 daily flights and transport more than 10 million

passengers a year to 140 cities and towns in North America. Visit

www.pncl.com for more information.